Bananas are not generally considered acidic, but their overall acidity level can vary depending on their ripeness. Bananas have a pH of around 5 to 5.3 when ripe. Generally, fruits are considered acidic if they have a pH of 4.6 or less.

Banana Acidity: Where Fruits Sit on the pH Scale

Different fruits have different acid levels. The pH scale is designed to determine where something falls on the pH scale, whether it is high acid, low acid, or mostly neutral. The scale goes from 0 to 14, with higher numbers being lower in acid.

There are three determinations on the pH scale: acidic, neutral and alkaline. Foods between 0 and 6 are considered acidic. Level 7 is considered neutral and those that fall into categories 8 to 14 are considered alkaline.

Bananas are generally higher on the pH scale, but are still considered slightly acidic because their acid level is between 4.5 and 5.2, depending on maturity.

Conditions triggered by acidic foods

Several conditions can be triggered by acidic foods. Gastrointestinal disorders, including heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are the two most notable. However, other conditions can be made worse by acidic foods, especially if you eat a lot of them, including:

• High blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• Osteopenia (low bone mineral density that is not low enough to be considered osteoporosis)

Eating acidic foods in excess can cause Unbalanced pH in the bodyleading to a condition known as low quality acidosis. This metabolic condition is marked by high levels of acidic substances in the blood.

Other factors may play a role in the development of acidosis, including:

• Drink too much alcohol
• Having low blood sugar
• Have other health problems, including diabetes, kidney disease, liver failure, severe diarrhea, severe dehydration, cancer, seizures, MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) or severe asthma
• Poisoning by various substances, including carbon monoxide, aspirin, ethylene glycol or methanol
• Prolonged and excessive vigorous exercise
• Prolonged lack of oxygen caused by heart failure, anemia or shock
• Sepsis, a potentially fatal disease
• Taking certain medications, including metformin, antiretrovirals, and salicylates

These more severe cases of acidosis are likely not caused by moderate consumption of acidic foods.

Comparison of fruit acidity

Different fruits have different acid levels. Fruits that are lower on the pH scale and therefore higher in acid include:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit and lemons
• Grapes
• Peaches
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Plums
• Strawberries

Less acidic fruits may include:

• Cantaloupe
• Figs
• Honeydew melon
• Papaya
• Ripe bananas
• Ripe mangoes
• Watermelon

How to Relieve Banana-Related Heartburn

If you have heartburn caused by something other than eating a banana, eating one can help, but you have to be sure it is ripe enough.

As mentioned above, the ripeness of a banana determines its acidity level due to something called resistant starch. Resistant starches can lead to increased acid production because they are harder to digest. When a banana is still green or not fully ripe, it contains more of this resistant starch, which could be a problem for people with heartburn.

However, once the banana ripens, these resistant starches are transformed into sugars through a process that breaks them down. This makes the bananas sweeter and softer. For this reason, the softer a banana is, the better it prevents heartburn.

Summary

People with acidity issues should avoid more acidic fruits, like citrus fruits, apples, and cherries, because they are lower on the pH scale and can make things worse. Other ways to combat heartburn and avoid worsening from acid include medications, lifestyle changes, and reducing the consumption of acidic fruits.

Since bananas are only slightly acidic, their acidity level depends on their ripeness. Generally, they are safe to eat for people suffering from illnesses caused by acid buildup, but it is best to eat them fully ripe. If you want to combat heartburn, you can try a ripe and soft banana.